I used the sketch from deconstructingjen. The snowflake punch is Martha Stewart. The sentiment was a clear quote that I cut out those three words and made my own. The image was colored with Copics. If you're looking for some fantastic tutorials you need to check out Kit and Clowder on my sidebar. She has started a new youtube channel and has several listed already. My hubby even sat and watched a couple with me. :)

Weight Loss Update: I switched over to doing the Weight Watchers method this week. I was really struggling and almost gave up, but thought I'd give this a whirl. I think I just needed to trick my mind. :) It's going pretty good. I also joined a group on FB that I have to report my exercising to. That has helped tremendously!

Saturday, January 26, 2013

Happy Saturday! I have a fairly simple card to share with you today using Tilda Picking Peaches. I paper pieced her and then colored over image with Copics. It didn't seem to have enough definition plain.

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

This week at Digital Tuesday Challenge, we'd like to see your favorite color combo. I have many, but chose to use one of favorites for boys. This page was made with a kit from our sponsor-Template Dreams. It is called 'Hey There.' We'd love for you to join us.

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Happy Tuesday! It's been an interesting weekend for me as I threw out my back. I've been close friend with the lazy boy and when I do get up, I walk like the crooked old lady you see in nursery rhymes. Ooooohhhh painful! I'm headed to the chiropractor this afternoon. Thank goodness my hubby has been home to take care of me and the kiddos.

Thankfully, I was ahead of schedule to get my card made for Digital Tuesday Challenge. I was hoping to decorate the inside, but plans changed due to sitting up hurts. LOL! I wanted to put something like "No matter the weather, we'll be friends forever." Maybe tomorrow....:)

The image was donated generously from our sponsor Spesch Stamps. Her name is Samantha. The "shine" is from K & Company. Saw it sitting in my stash and thought that went perfectly! I printed the "rain or" off the computer. I don't remember the font...sorry. The flowers are a random plethora from Recollections, Prima, Hobby Lobby, etc. Twine comes from My Mind's Eye. The papers are MME, Echo Park and the sun was cut out from Simply Stories.

Saturday, January 12, 2013

I ventured way out of my comfort zone with today's card. I wasn't really in the mood to color *shocker,* so I decided I'd think out of the box. The verdict is still out on what I think about the card. I tried to make it look like a bouquet of flowers.

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Digital Tuesday Challenge is back at it after the holidays. It was nice to have a quick break, but it's also fun to use some new Christmas goodies. :) I've seen our challenge NEW BEGINNINGS floating around on several blogs, so it shouldn't be hard to get inspired.

I am using an image from our sponsor Robyn's Fetish-Waking Up Birdie. I chose to keep the sentiment generic so it could be used for several "new beginnings" in the future (You're Moving, You're Having a Baby, etc.). The paper is from My Mind's Eye and I was inspired by this card from Pickled Paper Designs. Copics were my form of coloring.

Weight Loss Update: I lost 3.6 lbs this week. To say I am excited is an understatement. I did not follow my calories to the T. We were invited out for dessert from our church friends, but I knew it was coming and tried to eat very light throughout the day. I also made sure I exercised. My legs are screaming at me this morning!
No new recipes to share. I tried one that I was pumped about, but there had to be a misprint in the book. It told me to let it cook for an hr and a half. I checked on it before halfway through and it was already scorched. Bummers!

Saturday, January 5, 2013

I wanted to make a Valentine's Day card without overflowing it with hearts and red/pink. As good as my intentions are, I usually don't get them mailed and so therefore it could be used as an anniversary/spouse birthday/new love/etc card. The majority of the time I like to make my cards more general themed because I can use them for more than one occasion. I just build up my stash and run to it when needed. Sounds good in theory, right?! :)

I chose to use Magnolia's Sister and Brother image. I've used it for Christmas before, as well. I followed the sketch from deconstructing jen. I'll have to admit I felt a little out of my league joining in this challenge, but I guess that is what "challenge" means. They are having a DT call, so I took a gander at that, too.

The paper and twine are from My Mind' Eye (another treasure found at TJ Maxx-paper packs for $2.99). I believe the punch is Fiskars, but I could be wrong. The sentiment was hand written.

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

1st card blogged of 2013...wow, that date just can't be right, can it?

I chose to use the sketch from Mojo Monday. The card is actually only 3x3-perfect for a gift tag. I used papers from Summer Fresh by Simple Stories. I love the vintage flair throughout the pack. It was brought to me by Santa. ;) The twine is from American Crafts. I got a bunch of that for Christmas, too. Check out your local TJ Maxx where it came from. I've been hitting the jackpot on supplies!

There is just something about the new year coming along and starting with a clean slate. I sometimes wonder why I make resolutions because it seems that I never can accomplish them all. (I always have high hopes). However, even if just a portion of that goal was completed, it's better than nothing, right? There's a great post about that here.

One of my main goals this year is to become healthier. (I've gotta admit that I'm really wanting to go binge and eat on all that leftover Christmas candy as I'm typing). I have 2 children and a hubby and I'm a pastor's wife. Sometimes it just overwhelms me the amount of responsibility/duties/organization/etc that is involved. Kuddos to ya'll who have larger families.

Therefore, I eat.

I am an emotional eater.

I eat when I'm bored.

I like food.

Sure, I wanna be skinny (who doesn't?). Sure, I wanna live longer. However, even though I know all of the "right" things to do, it once again seems to overwhelm me and I take the easy way out. I have OCD. I find that if I can't do something with "perfection" I don't do it at all. So, when I start my diets, I follow them to a T. But, when I mess up, then I give up all together. Make sense?

So, I'm putting myself out there. I thought this might be one way to make myself a little more accountable. I'm hoping to keep up my progress on here, share my tips, try new recipes, and give encouragement. So far I'm aiming to:

Stay within calories (myfitnesspal.com)

Drink 6-8 glasses of water/day

Exercise regularly (starting off I'm going to do 30 mins at least 4 days a week)

Include lots of veggies in meals

Try at least 1 new recipe/week

Eat at home more

I'd like to lose 50 lbs this year. It needs to be more, but I figure that's just under a lb/week. Anyone care to join me? :)